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Atari Launches Linux Gaming Box Starting at $199 (linux.com)
An anonymous reader quotes Linux.com:
Attempts to establish Linux as a gaming platform have failed time and time again, with Valve's SteamOS being the latest high-profile casualty. Yet, Linux has emerged as a significant platform in the much smaller niche of retro gaming, especially on the Raspberry Pi. Atari has now re-emerged from the fog of gaming history with an Ubuntu-based Atari VCS gaming and media streaming console aimed at retro gamers. In addition to games, the Atari VCS will also offer Internet access and optional voice control. With a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, the system can be used as a standard Linux computer.
The catch is that the already delayed systems won't ship until July 2019... By the launch date, Atari plans to have "new and exclusive" games for download or streaming, including "reimagined classic titles from Atari and other top developers," as well as multi-player games. The Atari VCS Store will also offer video, music and other content... The hardware is not open source, and the games will be protected with HDCP. However, the Ubuntu Linux stack based on Linux kernel 4.10 is open source, and includes a "customizable Linux UX." A Linux "sandbox" will be available for developing or porting games and apps. Developers can build games using any Linux compatible gaming engine, including Unity, Unreal Engine, and Gamemaker. Atari also says that "Linux-based games from Steam and other platforms that meet Atari VCS hardware specifications should work."
Atari boasts this will be their first device offering online multi-player experiences, and the device will also come pre-loaded with over 100 classic Atari games.
An Indiegogo campaign this week seeking $100,000 in pre-orders has already raised over $2.2 million from 8808 backers.
The catch is that the already delayed systems won't ship until July 2019... By the launch date, Atari plans to have "new and exclusive" games for download or streaming, including "reimagined classic titles from Atari and other top developers," as well as multi-player games. The Atari VCS Store will also offer video, music and other content... The hardware is not open source, and the games will be protected with HDCP. However, the Ubuntu Linux stack based on Linux kernel 4.10 is open source, and includes a "customizable Linux UX." A Linux "sandbox" will be available for developing or porting games and apps. Developers can build games using any Linux compatible gaming engine, including Unity, Unreal Engine, and Gamemaker. Atari also says that "Linux-based games from Steam and other platforms that meet Atari VCS hardware specifications should work."
Atari boasts this will be their first device offering online multi-player experiences, and the device will also come pre-loaded with over 100 classic Atari games.
An Indiegogo campaign this week seeking $100,000 in pre-orders has already raised over $2.2 million from 8808 backers.
They started a campaign to FUND the future launching (if there are not manufacturing hiccups).
Come back in 2019 and the console ships and repost this.
with Valve's SteamOS being the latest high-profile casualty
SteamOS is still being actively developed. It's Steam Machines that are no longer being produced. It's still possible to build your own Steam Machine and install SteamOS on it.
The company wearing Atari's skin thinks it can make the Ouya work.
To be fair, Ouya didn't even try to make the Ouya work. And with advances in ARM processors and their matching GPUs, now is a better time in terms of hardware. But other than their excellent physical design, there's nothing that gives me any confidence that this will go any better.
(Also: We can't call Valve's dabbling in Linux a failure considering that they didn't fully charge ahead with it. They succeeded at creating a pressure release valve that kept Windows Store from picking up steam with publishers, and they continue to work toward that end.)
Attempts to establish Linux as a gaming platform have failed time and time again
Most of the studios making actually good game are releasing on Linux these days.
Acid Wizard? (Darkwood) Check. ...
Snapshot? (Phoenix Point) Check.
Obsidian? (Pillars of Eternity) Check.
InXile? (Wasteland 2/3) Check.
Almost Human? (Grimrock) Check.
Frictional? (Amnesia) Check.
Re-Logic? (Terraria) Check.
Catalyst? (Shadowrun) Check.
On and on - that's the tip of an iceberg. Most of the interesting games are releasing on Linux. On the other hand, if you think Call of Duty 49 or Madden 290 is your idea of a good game, well... yeah, you're SOL. Go back to your mindless mainstream microtransacted shit.
Stick to the more interesting games and you have a hell of a lot of choice in Linux gaming. There's more good Linux games releasing now than at any point in history. What doesn't get released is the AAA shovelware that's married to lootboxes and online DRM. Good riddance.
at that price point. It's an AMD SOC with 4 gigs DDR & 32 gigs storage. The trouble is ram prices are pretty high. The board/CPU can probably be had for $50 bucks in quantity (neweggs got one for $70). The ram's gonna be at least $30 unless they use the cheap stuff (and they'll pay for that later in returns). Figure $5 for the storage. Figure $20 for the case and $15 for the controller, another $15 for packaging and another $20 to ship the thing (including cost of getting it to them and then to the consumer). I'm gonna guess that case cost them $5-$10 to get made (custom tooling is expensive and it doesn't look anything like the existing flashback consoles). They're getting close to $150 bucks. Take 8% for Indiegogo's cut and you've got almost all your profit.
Now let's talk support. It's Linux and not Chrome. Not sure if that matters. If the only folks who buy it are techies they might be OK, but there's still going to be support costs.
Still, it's Indiegogo, meaning probably no prototype to speak of. The whole thing feels like a scam. If it's not that price point would make it a great little Linux box though.
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with Valve's SteamOS being the latest high-profile casualty
So, either:
A) SteamOS has been discontinued (news to me), or...
B) Whatever moron wrote the above has no idea what those words even mean...
I don't think I really want to spend $199 to play Atari 2600/5200 games.
Now if the catalog was all the PC games Atari/Infogrames/GT Interactive has published for the last 25 years then that is more interesting. For example: Roller Coaster Tycoon, Alone in the Dark, Test Drive, Deer Hunter, Unreal Tournament (technically), Neverwinter Nights, Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard, Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes, ... there are lots of decent to good games in their catalog.
Lots of contracts and agreements to hammer out as I'm sure many rights have reverted back to the original owners by now. But I'm optimistic because there is a convincing argument that money can be made.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
The company wearing Atari's skin thinks it can make the Ouya work.
The following clause from the summary also made me think of OUYA: "and the games will be protected with HDCP." High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) blocks the use of (legal) HDMI capture devices. This means that in order for fans and reviewers to give exposure on YouTube to games worth buying, they'll have to invest in a combination of TV and camcorder suitable for making a video through the analog hole. The lack of YouTube exposure stemming from the requirement for all games on OUYA to use HDCP is one of the many factors that led to lack of user demand for OUYA games.
$200 on a machine that plays 30+ year old games....
Yeah, this is DOA..